The Japanese attack on the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, bringing the USA into the war, took place on 7th December 1941. Japanese forces landed from troopships and overcame British defences at Kota Bahru, Malaya. Air attacks took place on bases in Singapore and Malaya.

Charles Lindbergh, an American, had been the first to fly solo, non-stop, across the Atlantic, in 1927. In the early stages of WW II he had strongly advocated, before the US Congress, a non-interventionist policy. However, in the later stages, after “Pearl Harbour”, he patriotically served the war effort through involvement with military aircraft development and advanced pilot training in active combat in the Pacific.

DorothyRaynor was the sister of Don and the daughter of Herbert. Don Raynor (see 16 Dec. 1940) was training in Canada for RAF service.